Laugher is often the best medicine when it comes to heartbreak, a new podcast exploring the wild tales of the "outrageous antics" of cheaters offers just that, with a dose of heartfelt advice.
Comedians Shari Diaz and Kate Robards bring listeners along on the journey as they explore the "wacky world of infidelity" on the Cheaters & Backstabbers podcast. The duo are often joined by special guests that run the gamut, from private investigators who specialize in tracking down unfaithful partners to counselors and other "seasoned professionals" to guests sharing their own personal stories of betrayal.
In the most recent episode released on Tuesday (July 23), Diaz and Robards were joined by personal trainer and Robards' childhood friend Michael Keeney who explained how he went on a journey of accepting his sexuality and coming to terms with being gay, all while being engaged to a woman.
"I always wanted to be in a relationship, but I was a raging homosexual even not knowing it," he said of meeting his now ex-fiancée, adding, "I was so desperate to be loved and to feel validated because I was so afraid that I was this thing that everyone said I was. And I finally had someone who was interested in me... I knew that I could love her, and I did. I loved her with everything in me that could love a person."
Keeney and his ex dated for two years before getting engaged, but he said their relationship was him "showing up with grand gestures" without "being able to be a partner," admitting that he was "awful and selfish and not a good partner."
"I do believe that people did not expect that it would end well, because I do believe that people saw who I really was and that I was lying enough to myself and everyone else to know that," he said.
His ex ended called off the engagement which ultimately led Keeney to moving to New York City where he met his now-husband. Speaking to the hosts, he stressed the importance of being "authentically you" and not cheating on yourself.
"If you are who you are, you're not going to cheat on yourself. You're going to give yourself the best because that's what you deserve at all times," he said. "And your back should be strong, your heart can be open. If you are authentically you, when things are stabbing you in the back, you're able to show face and move forward. If there's shame, then your back is weak and you crumble, and every single one of those knives digs deeper and deeper into you. And when those knives are self-inflicted, they're even worse because you don't have the hands to get them out if you're putting them in."
Cheaters & Backstabbers has new episodes every week. Follow along with new episodes or catch up on the journey at iHeart.com.